Countdown to Opening Day: #18, Dynamo have lost just 18 MLS home games in seven years

With the Dynamo set to begin the 2013 season in just 18 days – against D.C. United at BBVA Compass Stadium on March 2 – we are counting down to kickoff with a Dynamo-centric countdown to opening day. See bottom of this post for the complete countdown list.

Each day, we’ll post a short description of what makes the number significant. If you have any Dynamo-related numbers of your own, post them in the comment section below.

Today, we continue with #18:

In seven seasons, the Houston Dynamo have played 119 MLS home games. They have lost only 18 of them. The win percentage is staggering - .714 - offering credence to the notion that Houston is the most difficult place to win in Major League Soccer. Many elements have played a part in the remarkable home success, including: great teams (4 MLS Cup appearances and 2 MLS Cup titles in 7 seasosn), great fans (21,015 average attendance in 2012; 4th best in MLS) and perhaps the most-discussed factor, the weatther.

Consider this: A third of Houston's 18 home losses occured in a single season, 2010, when the club went 6-6-3 at home. If you remove the 2010 season from the equation, the Dynamo have averaged just two MLS home losses per season. Outside of the 2010 season, the Dynamo have lost three or fewer home games in every season, and have twice recorded seasons with just one regular season loss: 2008 and 2009.

18 home losses in 119 home games is a remarkable number, and with the Dynamo riding a 25-game regular season home unbeaten streak into 2013, the Dynamo will look to continue their home dominance. There are many reasons to come out to BBVA Compass Stadium in 2013. I think the fact that Houston has been the toughest place to win in Major League Soccer since the Dynamo arrived in 2006 should be near the top. Houstonians should be proud of their part in the home field advantage, and look forward to more home wins in 2013.

The Dynamo have the best regular season and postseason home win percentages in league history. The charts below detail the Dynamo's year-by-year home records and the top five home clubs in league history.